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Brandon Barrows Comics

BIG News and a Happy Thanksgiving!

11/25/2020

Big news that I'm excited and thankful to be able to share!

I sold a novel!

Black Rose Writing, publisher of my last novel BURN ME OUT, has bought my mystery novel STRANGERS' KINGDOM.

Here's a little about it:

Politically blacklisted detective Luke Campbell’s last chance in law-enforcement is a job with the police department of rural Granton, Vermont. It’s a beautiful town, home to a beautiful, intriguing girl who’s caught his eye, and it’s a chance at redemption. Even if his new boss seems strange, secretive, and vaguely sinister, Campbell is willing to give this opportunity a shot. And no sooner does he make that decision than the first in a series of murders is discovered, starting a chain of events that will change the lives of everyone in this once-quiet town…

It's tentatively slated for publication late summer/early fall of 2021. More information when I have it!

That said, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, everyone, and enjoy the holiday!

Literary Legacies (Sort Of): David Goodis

11/18/2020

I've been reading some of David Goodis's short stories lately and finding I like them a lot more than his novels, which seem to rehash the same topics/themes over and over. I've really been enjoying those stories (Professional Man may well be his best work IMO), and by coincidence I came across a post I wrote in 2017 about his novel BLACK FRIDAY that doesn't seem to have posted correctly.

Serendipity? Perhaps. Read on.

Here's the post as originally written:

As the introduction to the novel tells us, Goodis was a strange man: he lived with his parents until their deaths (except for a brief time in LA working as a screenwriter when he rented a couch from a coworker for $4 a week), never bought clothing (he preferred wearing friends' hand-me-downs, even to the point when they were no longer wearable) and had several blatantly-obvious obsessions which appear over and over in his work, such as men caught between immensely-strong-willed, almost always overweight, women and fragile, waifish women. He also, supposedly, was obsessed with the idea of people being brought low -- once-rich men living on the streets, for example. Also sado-masochism.

I haven't read nearly enough Goodis to come to this conclusion myself, but if it's true, BLACK FRIDAY is certainly no exception. The story is of a man named Al Hart, the second son of a rich family, on the run from a murder charge. By sheer coincidence, he witnesses a murder stemming from a fall-out among a gang of thieves and, through impressing the leader of the gang with his guts and knowledge, is taken in as one of them. From there, the story is ostensibly about Hart proving to Charley, the gang's leader, that he is a "professional" criminal and taking part in a huge art heist if he can do so. This is largely a maguffin, though, as the real story is about Hart's torturous inner turmoil over Charley's girlfriend--an obese, immensely-strong-personalitied, over-sexed woman--falling in love with him, Hart, and making him hers (thus giving him a place in the gang, when he has literally nowhere else to go) and his feelings over Myrna, the sister of the man he accidentally killed (thus impressing Charley enough to give him a chance in the first place).

Most of the novel from there is dialogue among small groups of characters or descriptions of Hart's inner monologue. It felt less like a novel than a three-act play designed for a very small cast. For all that, it's not a terrible read, but it's misclassified as a crime novel; there is crime in it, but only to move the story along. If I'd been better informed as to what this book really was, I'd not have read it.

For all that, I don't regret reading it, mind you, but I can't really recommend it. It's noir, certainly, but far too much tortured-loner-lost-in-himself and far too little crime to make it interesting.

New text follows:

I've since read other Goodis novels and felt that, while they were better than BLACK FRIDAY, they don't hold my interest as well as his stories, novelettes and novellas. Some of the same themes apply, but he also seemed to feel as if he could branch out more in his shorter works. Which makes sense, of course, since they were a lesser time-investment. That said, I would really like to read a collection of Goodis short stories but sadly, it doesn't appear one exists.

Tumbleweeds, Gunslingers, and Suspense!

11/11/2020

Something a little different, a non-fiction article I wrote with Jill Hand for Mystery & Suspense Magazine about five works where westerns and thrillers collide!

I included a couple of my favorite Louis L'Amour works and Jill included some more recent works. Check it out!

Enjoy some Free Fiction

11/4/2020

Take a few minutes to relax today and maybe read about some criminals who at least don't try to hide it.

My crime story "Above Water" is free to read at Tough magazine.

Click above or the image below to read it. I hope you enjoy and remember take care of yourselves.

Happy Halloween! New Free Comic - "The Cask of Amontillado"

10/28/2020

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Let's celebrate with a new, free to read comic! It's an adaptation of my favorite Poe horror story, "The Cask of Amontillado". It originally appeared in an issue of Strange Aeons back in 2014 or so.

Enjoy and remember to stay safe this holiday!

Click the image below to read the full comic!

Rough Times Ahead

10/21/2020

A week ago, I was laid off from my job of nearly thirteen years without any notice.

This year has been hard for a lot of people, and I counted myself quite lucky that aside from being stuck at home for the last seven-plus months, I escaped any serious repercussions from COVID-19. Well, now I've been hit and in a way I never expected. Really, I never saw this coming.

That said, the immediate future looks rather bleak, and I could use some help.

If you'd like to donate something, I would be very grateful.

There are numerous free to read comics and stories on my site, so please browse, read, enjoy and if you find something you think worthy, go ahead and donate whatever you think its worth.

That said, please also check out my Amazon author page. There are dozens of publications still in print and buying my short story collections, for example, or "The Home Place"--the Full Speed Single I had published earlier this year, directly benefit me. This includes my latest novel, BURN ME OUT.

And, of course, sharing the word always helps immensely. If you can't make a purchase or a donation, please take a moment to share one of my works you enjoyed on social media or tell a friend directly.

Thank you in advance.

Talking BURN ME OUT at The Big Thrill!

10/14/2020

The new issue of The Big Thrill, the official magazine of the International Thriller Writers, is out and includes an interview with me!

Rick Reed and I talked about BURN ME OUT, its influences and what the future holds!

Click here to read the interview and check out the whole issue!

Halloween Means HORROR! RED RUN IS ON COMIXOLOGY!

10/7/2020

Start the Halloween season early with some horror comics!

The McConnells are a down-on-their-luck family desperately in need of a fresh start and a lucky break. When Becky is sucked into a cycle of recurring dreams filled with monstrously burned and disfigured people, her world unravels and her dreams start to become a nightmarish reality.

And it's on Comixology! Check it out!

Some new Amazon Reviews for BURN ME OUT!

9/30/2020

As you may have seen, BURN ME OUT was briefly on sale recently. It generated some new reviews I'd like to share.

And that's just two of them!

BURN ME OUT is currently five-star-reviewed across the board on both Amazon and GoodReads!

If you haven't checked it out for yourself yet, what are you waiting for?

This is a book that's really dear to me as a writer, so I'd love for you to give it a try and let me know your thoughts.

Click below to be whisked away directly to the Amazon storefront!

New Interview! Talking BURN ME OUT with The Awesome Gang!

9/23/2020

The Awesome Gang were kind enough to interview me about my newest novel, BURN ME OUT!

We talked about this book, and why it's so important to me, as well the writing process and one of my favorite authors!

Check it out!

And if you haven't already, make sure you check out BURN ME OUT, too! 5-star-rated across the board by Amazon readers and going strong!